San Diego County MRC and the Red Cross: An Integrated Response to Disasters John Hill Director of Disaster Preparedness – San Diego County Medical Society Volunteer Coordinator - San Diego County MRC

San Diego County MRC “Sponsored” by SD County Public Health Services (PHS) Development and organization contracted to SDCMS MRC Coordinators include PHS and EMS staff Volunteers registered with County Office of Emergency Services (OES) as Disaster Service Workers (DSW)

Disaster Shelters in San Diego County Operational Area Emergency Plan Annex “G” – Care And Shelter Operations –Red Cross provide bulk of Mass Care Services –HHSA and PHS will assist Red Cross –Provide trained personnel to Mass Care Shelters (PHNs)

Disaster Shelters in San Diego County Public Health Nursing provides PHNs –Administer first aid following Red Cross protocols –Perform health assessments to identify health problems –Perform a variety of other health related tasks: Chronic disease monitoring Protect residences from communicable disease Monitor food preps Health education

Background Viejas and Julian Fires (2001/2002) - need to open more than 2 Disaster Shelters simultaneously Public Health Nursing agreed to provide some PHNs to be trained on Red Cross Shelter Operations and Protocols Training Program initiated by PHS and Red Cross for the PHNs

Background Fall Cedar Fires Largest wildfire in California history Within 48 hours Red Cross established 12 Disaster Shelters 85 PHNs worked more than hour shifts

MRC Status in 2003 SDCMS establishing physician volunteer network to assist PHS Working with PHS to submit application for MRC grant Hospital ERs not overwhelmed with victims (except for Burn Unit) Did not realize health situations at shelters Decision made with PHS to not activate volunteers

Cedar Fires Debrief RC and PH Nurses encountered large number of medical issues –Most didn’t require transport to ER, but did not fall within protocols for treatment at shelter either –Huge number of maintenance med prescriptions –Medical supply needs such as oxygen/insulin –Not out of the norm, but volume was overwhelming NEED TO HAVE A SYSTEM TO MEET MEDICAL NEEDS OF VICTIMS IN SHELTERS!!

Developing the Partnership Brainstorming session County –EMS Disaster Coordinator –Lead PHN –MRC Coordinators Red Cross –Disaster Health Services Directors –Lead Physician –Lead Nurse

Developing the Partnership Brainstorming session –Educated each other! –Discussed what had been needed in fires –Discussed what could possibly have been done –Discussed liability (RC vs. DSW) to ensure RC immune –Discussed RC notification that MRC is needed –Next steps

Developing the Partnership Public Health Nurses –PHS and Red Cross developed training curriculum Red Cross Shelter Operations Red Cross Disaster Health Services Protocols MRC capabilities and interaction Over 180 PHNs trained

Developing the Partnership MRC Advisory Board Red Cross represented by: –RC Physician –RC Lead Nurse –Disaster Health Services Staff MRC adopted Disaster Shelters as a core mission

Developing the Partnership Developed notification procedure Developed shelter layout structure Developed client flow to include medical Determined the scope of practice for MRC would be defined during activation by Public Health Officer No need for MOU since already in Annex G

Hurricane Katrina 1 st MRC Activation –Notified by EMS of possible evacuees arriving in SD –Sept 2 nd : conference call w/Red Cross, County, DHS.. –Sept 3 rd : conference call at 1800 hrs Shelter being established for up to 170 evacuees arriving via plane on Sept 4 th –Called 9 volunteers, reached or left message with 8

Hurricane Katrina 3 MDs and 5 RNs mustered at shelter –MRC/RC established medical location and client flow –MRC brought basic medical items –RC provided first aid materials, purchased additional supplies and made arrangements to fill prescriptions –Deputy PHO assigned to establish scope of practice

Hurricane Katrina 80 evacuees arrived approx 1900 hrs –All seen by PHNs under RC protocols –35 referred to MRC RNs and MDs –Performed medical assessments/exams –Wrote prescriptions –Referred for follow up –1 transport to ER –MRC deactivated at 2230 hrs

Hurricane Katrina Throughout week of Sept 5 th prepared for arrival of FEMA flights Red Cross was lead agency –MRC/Disaster Health Services developed shelter layout at local university for 600 –MRC communication system to solicit volunteers –Activated 2 MRC MDs to see clients at RC offices –MRC pharmacist system to assist filling prescriptions –RC established Family Assistance Center (FAC)

Hurricane Katrina Sept 10 th to Oct 14 th at FAC –17 physicians volunteered for 79 4-hour shifts –12 nurses volunteered for 21 4-hour shifts –3 pharm techs volunteered for 7 4-hour shifts –More than 2300 clients registered at FAC –Nurses from RC, PH, and MRC saw 547 under RC protocols –339 needed to be seen by MRC physicians

Hurricane Katrina Sept 10 th to Oct 14 th at FAC What did they do? –Performed medical assessments/exams –Wrote prescriptions –Worked with community clinics on referrals/follow up –Provided emotional comfort and support –Arranged transport to ER or Urgent care if needed

Hurricane Katrina Identified a need to better fill prescriptions –Some MRC physicians brought sample meds –Solicited other MRC and SDCMS physicians –MRC pharmacists and pharm techs inventoried –Allowed for onsite filling of the common prescriptions Saved the local RC chapter thousands $$

Lessons Learned MRC needs more medical supplies than RC or PHN carry Medical location in shelter set up MRC protocols “tailored” for each event Scope of practice set by PHO each time Collaborate with RC on training programs/drills Train MRC nurses and physicians on RC forms

Lessons Learned Develop J-I-T training on Shelter Ops Train the PHNs on MRC volunteer management Develop MRC patient forms For long term shelters, establish watch bill system Identify common issues and establish prescription plan

QUESTIONS?

John Hill